4 Best Vinyl Stores in Groningen
May 11, 2026 • 18 minutes de lecture
Record Stores in Groningen — The 4 Best Vinyl Shops (2026)
There was a time when vinyl records were being discarded. Boxes full of LPs disappeared into attics, thrift stores, and garage sales. The CD had won, and then everyone just streamed everything. But who could have predicted that those same record stores, which closed one by one in the nineties and two-thousands, would now be bustling with activity? Because vinyl is back — and this time with more energy than ever.
In Groningen, you notice this perhaps even more than anywhere else. This is a city that has music in its DNA, and the record stores are tangible proof of that. From Ebbingestraat to Folkingestraat, from Steentilstraat to Gelkingestraat: the city has a record store for every type of music lover. In this guide, we take you through the four essential addresses — plus everything you need to know about vinyl culture in Groningen and the Netherlands.
Why vinyl? The comeback no one saw coming
Around 2005, something remarkable started to happen. Sales of vinyl records, which had been declining for decades, began to cautiously rise. First slowly, then faster. In 2020, the Dutch music industry generated more revenue from vinyl than from CD sales for the first time in years — a turning point that no one really saw coming. By 2022, Dutch vinyl turnover had risen to 37 million euros, more than five times as much as in 2013.
What is driving this revival? Partly nostalgia — people finding their parents' records and wanting to do something with them. But just as interesting is the new generation of vinyl buyers. Record store owners across the country are seeing more and more young people walking in, people under forty who have never owned a turntable before but are now making a conscious choice for it. Vinyl is tactile, it has ritual: unwrapping the sleeve, carefully placing the needle, waiting for the first sound. In a world of endless digital choice, that’s no coincidence — it’s a reaction.
There’s more to it: the music industry is actively responding. Major artists are intentionally releasing their albums on vinyl, sometimes with exclusive colors, special editions, or limited runs. And the record fair as an event is flourishing too: thousands of visitors across the country flock to markets where records are bought, traded, and admired. Vinyl is no longer a niche. It has become a lifestyle.
Groningen: Music City of the North
Few cities in the Netherlands have such a rich musical identity as Groningen. It starts with Eurosonic Noorderslag, the annual festival that turns Groningen into the center of the European music industry every January. Artists who play here often find themselves on major festival stages across Europe a year later — for many musicians, Groningen is a springboard to the world.
But music culture in Groningen goes beyond one festival a year. With over 200,000 students, the city is young, vibrant, and musically active. Pop venue Vera has been attracting renowned acts to Gelkingestraat for decades. The Oosterpoort and MartiniPlaza are large-scale concert venues that bring world-class artists to the city. And in between, there are small pubs, jazz clubs, and underground venues — the places where the true love for music lives.
It is no coincidence that Groningen has so many good record stores. A city that lives for music also has people who take their records seriously. The four shops in this guide are each a reflection of that broad musical culture — from experimental jazz to K-pop, from classic rock to metal. Together, they offer a complete picture of what the Groningen vinyl scene has to offer.
1. De Jongens van Hemmes
Music love as heritage — for over 20 years
As far back as 2003, Eric and John opened their record store in Steentilstraat as a tribute to the legendary music shop Hemmes that once stood in the same spot. With the name, they also brought the spirit: broad knowledge, honest advice, and a selection that goes beyond what you find in the average record store.
The moment you walk in, your musical heart beats faster. The crates are full: from challenging jazz and experimental electronic music to modern house and everything in between. Thanks to a network of international importers, rare titles that you simply won't find elsewhere regularly appear in the bins. Eric and John are the types who know what's going on — in the music world and the collector community — and they love to share that knowledge. You’ll get a great recommendation here without even having to ask.
For locals in Groningen, there is even a free bicycle delivery service — a detail that perfectly describes what kind of shop this is. Their current favorite? Black Classical Music by Yussef Dayes. That says enough about their taste.
- 📍 Address: Steentilstraat 10, Groningen
- Specialty: Jazz, house, electronic, experimental — and rare imports
- Second-hand: Yes, wide selection
- Extra: Free bike delivery in Groningen
- Webshop: dejongensvanhemmes.nl
2. Plato Groningen
Groningen’s largest — and best-known — record store
The large white neon letters on the facade in Oude Ebbingestraat are a landmark in the city. At about 200 square meters, Plato is one of the largest record stores in the Northern Netherlands, and the selection is commensurate. The bins are packed with the latest releases, CDs are well represented, and on the upper floor, you’ll find an extensive section of second-hand LPs, singles, and CDs. You can spend hours here without ever getting bored.
Plato offers a broad range: from indie and pop to jazz, classical, and electronic. It is the shop where both casual buyers and serious collectors can find what they need. The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting — no one will look at you strangely if you don’t know what you’re looking for, but help is available if you ask.
What truly sets Plato apart is its connection to the Groningen music scene. During Eurosonic Noorderslag, the store transforms annually into an intimate concert hall for the famous PlatoSonic festival — a tradition running since 2001, where artists perform in the most intimate setting imaginable: right in the middle of the record bins. Are you in the city during the festival? Then this is an absolute must. And even if you aren’t, Plato is the ideal first stop for any vinyl lover visiting Groningen.
- 📍 Address: Oude Ebbingestraat 41, Groningen
- Specialty: Wide range — new vinyl, CDs, and second-hand in all genres
- Second-hand: Yes, extensive department on the upper floor
- Live events: PlatoSonic in-store concerts during, for example, Eurosonic Noorderslag
- Webshop: platomania.nl
- Google Rating: 4.6/5
3. Elpee Groningen
Internationally respected — independent for nearly 50 years
Elpee is the kind of record store that other music cities are jealous of. Founded in 1975, it’s been a household name in Groningen for nearly fifty years and has been completely independent since 1985. That independence shines through in everything: no top-40, no compromises, no catering to mass taste.
This is the shop for people who want to dig a bit deeper. Metal, punk, alternative, krautrock, noise — the kind of genres you might search for in vain elsewhere, but will almost certainly find here. Owner Jan Gorter is known for his sharp knowledge and direct advice. His personal favorite? Neu! 2 by the Krautrock band Neu!, a treasure he only discovered in the eighties. That immediately gives you a good idea of the vibe: friendly, timeless, and musically serious.
Proof that the store is taken seriously internationally came in a special gesture: in 2018, the Danish Roskilde Festival donated €10,000 to Elpee, recognizing the shop's role as a cultural pillar of the city. After more than forty years on Oosterstraat, Elpee recently moved to Gelkingestraat — just a minute's walk from pop venue Vera, which is no coincidence.
- 📍 Address: Gelkingestraat 33, Groningen
- Specialty: Metal, punk, alternative, and obscure gems
- Second-hand: Yes
- Opening Hours: Tue-Fri 11:00–18:00, Sat 11:00–17:00 (Mon & Sun closed)
- Webshop: elpee-groningen.nl
- Google Rating: 4.3/5
4. Variaworld
The newest addition to Folkingestraat — with a surprising twist
Variaworld is the youngest record store in Groningen, but far from unknown. The business, run by father Wilco and son Dylan de Bruin, has been organizing record fairs in the city for over twenty years — at the Vismarkt and in MartiniPlaza — building a loyal following before even hanging a shop window. After branches in Deventer, Zwolle, and Utrecht, Groningen is the chain's fourth store. Wilco: "So many people asked us: why don't you have a store in Groningen? There is so much demand." By late 2025, it happened.
The store at Folkingestraat 12A is compact but carefully stocked: new vinyl, second-hand records, CDs, singles, posters, merchandise, and vinyl accessories. But the most striking distinction is the K-pop section. Seven cabinets and two display cases are entirely dedicated to Korean pop music — a genre that is enormously popular among young people but was barely represented in the Northern Netherlands. In the North, you hardly find anything like it, says Wilco, and the demand proves him right. Variaworld explicitly sees itself as a complement to the existing record stores in the city, not as a competitor. And that’s true: the atmosphere is open, accessible, and inviting for both new and experienced vinyl buyers.
- 📍 Address: Folkingestraat 12A, Groningen
- Specialty: Broad range — including K-pop, trending artists, and second-hand
- Second-hand: Yes, vintage vinyl, CDs, and singles
- Extra: Posters, merchandise, and vinyl accessories
- Webshop: variaworld.nl
Not just shops: Groningen's Record Fairs
Anyone who loves vinyl knows that the record store isn't the only hunting ground. A few times a year, MartiniPlaza turns into what you might call the largest temporary record store in the North: the XXL Record Fair Groningen, organized by none other than Variaworld.
The fair attracts over 45 record dealers from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and England, offering more than 150,000 LPs, singles, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and music merchandise. The selection ranges from one-euro bargains to rare collector items. There are specialized stands for hard rock, new vinyl, and singles, and concert footage runs on a large screen in the hall — the atmosphere is great the moment you walk in.
What makes the fair extra special is the breadth of the audience. Seasoned collectors stand alongside young people looking for their first record, and everyone finds what they’re looking for. For the latest edition in March 2026, there was even a special K-pop Day attached to it, with random play dance, thousands of K-pop albums, merchandise, and Korean snacks — an event within an event.
The fair takes place several times a year, usually in the spring and just before the holidays in December. Keep an eye on the agenda at martiniplaza.nl or variaworld.nl for current dates. Access is available at the door and online. Opening hours: 10:00–17:00.
In addition to the large fairs in MartiniPlaza, there are also regular smaller record fairs at the Vismarkt — the perfect stop if you’re in the city center anyway. Check the Stay in Groningen events page for the current agenda.
Record Store Day: One day a year, all stops out
Every April, there is another special moment for every vinyl lover: Record Store Day. On this day, record companies worldwide release exclusive, limited editions that are only available in independent record stores — and nowhere else. Special colors, picture discs, split releases, live recordings: the releases usually sell out quickly and are later traded by collectors for many times the retail price.
Plato, Elpee, and De Jongens van Hemmes all participate in Record Store Day, and on the day itself, there’s an atmosphere you won't find anywhere else: early birds sometimes line up before opening time, and the stores play music as if it’s a party — which, in fact, it is. If you have the chance to experience Record Store Day in Groningen, do it. It perfectly illustrates why record stores are irreplaceable.
🤝 And then: a well-deserved shout-out to Sticky Vinyl
From a frustration in a rental house to over 3,000 music walls
Vinyl isn't just about the sound; it’s an experience. The ritual of taking a record out of its sleeve, placing the needle, and admiring the artwork. Because let’s be honest: iconic covers like Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon or Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours deserve a place on the wall, not hidden in a cupboard.
The men behind Sticky Vinyl, brothers Marco and Raymon, ran into a problem years ago that many collectors recognize. They wanted to hang their records on the wall, but most systems required screws — not ideal in a rental house or student room. Other options were simply too expensive or made changing albums unnecessarily complicated.
Their mission was born: turning bare walls into music artworks. They developed, produced, and tested their own vinyl wall mount that solves all the previously mentioned problems. The system is intentionally kept minimalist so that the album cover is fully showcased. Thanks to a strong tape, you attach the system without drilling; no holes, no hassle, and no angry landlord.
Meanwhile, they have already upgraded over 3,000 bare walls and are rated 4.5 on Trustpilot. Whether you’ve had enough of The Beatles for a while and want to switch to David Bowie: the system allows a change in seconds. This keeps your wall fresh and always tells the story of what you’re listening to at that moment.
Truth be told: we aren’t just writing this blog from theory. I’ve been hanging my own records for a while now using Sticky Vinyl’s set of 9, and it works exactly as promised. Eight of them hang on the wall with rotating covers — depending on what I like, what I’m in the mood for, or just what looks good. The ninth hangs directly above my turntable, reserved for what’s currently playing. At the time of writing, that’s The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd — a classic that also happens to have one of the most beautiful covers vinyl has to offer. Coincidence or not, a cover like that on the wall immediately proves why you want this system.
- 🌐 Website: stickyvinyl.nl/en
- 🛒 Products: Vinyl wall mounts, record holders, storage racks, and vinyl accessories
- 🚚 Shipping: Free in the Netherlands from €50 — delivered within 4 working days
- 💳 Payment: iDEAL, Apple Pay, Klarna
- ⭐ Trustpilot: 4.5/5
Just scored a great find at one of the shops above, or heading to the record fair in MartiniPlaza soon? Then you know where to go next: stickyvinyl.nl/en.
Stay in Groningen completes your visit
Groningen has one of the liveliest record scenes in the Netherlands — and now you know exactly where to start. Four shops, each with their own character and their own audience. A record fair that draws thousands of visitors several times a year. A city that considers music not as an afterthought but as an identity. There’s always a reason to buy a record here.
Want to make a whole weekend of it? Stay in Groningen has everything you need: from hotels in the center to an overview of the best events and concerts coming up. Follow us on Instagram for daily tips and inspiration from the city.
The needle drops. The vinyl spins. Welcome to Groningen.
